Thank you for visiting the Hessenauer Sprinkler Repair and Irrigation blog and website. We like to educate our website visitors about news, tips and advice concerning sprinkler irrigation here in Central Florida and the Orlando area. Today we would like to explore a bit about troubleshooting bad sprinkler valves.
When troubleshooting an irrigation system it is important to know the various bad valve symptoms which can cause sprinkler problems. A valve that is not working properly could have various effects from various components which can malfunction. Sometimes a bad valve can be a broken sprinkler head or household water pressure problems.
Leaks around the valve are a rather obvious symptom of a bad sprinkler valve, and these leaks can actually be caused by a variety of issues. Getting to the root of the problem is the first step to diagnosing what is wrong. Find out where the water is leaking from such as around the solenoid, the anti-siphon part of the valve or perhaps around the housing of the valve itself.
If the sprinkler heads seem to get minimal amounts of water and the valve is clear, a bad valve could be the issue. Sprinkler pressure problems could be caused by the sprinkler valve not allowing enough flow through the valve.
Make sure the valve is turned on all the way first. Next, check to see if only one valve is affected or if all the valves have the same problem. If all but one valve is working properly then it is likely that all of the valves are getting sufficient water and it is just the one valve that needs fixing. If all of the sprinkler valves are not getting enough or any water then the problem is most likely not the valves. The source of the problem can be at the main sprinkler shut off or at the pressure vacuum breaker.
If the sprinkler valve will not turn on with the timer it can be a bad valve symptom but it can also be just a wiring problem. Try turning the sprinkler valve on manually to isolate an electrical issue.
When there is standing water or leaking water at the sprinkler furthest from the sprinkler valves it could be the sprinkler head, but it could also be that the corresponding valve. Standing water is a sign that the valve is not shutting off completely. If this is a new problem check for debris in the valve that can be causing it to stay open. If cleaning doesn’t solve the problem it could be that the valve is broken and once again you must decide to replace or repair it. If the problem is not new it could be that the valve was installed backwards. Check the valve to ensure that the direction of flow is pointing the right way.
Thank you again for visiting the Hessenauer Sprinkler Repair and Irrigation blog and website. Contact us today at 407-302-2227 or email us for an estimate on any sprinkler irrigation projects you may have here in the Central Florida and Orlando area. Bookmark us and be sure to come back soon!